A Chanukah Miracle in Crimea

Recently, two electric pylons that transfer electricity from Ukraine to Crimea were bombed, and Crimea has been in the dark, without electricity except 2-4 hours a day. The Russian authorities ruling the peninsula decreed that all public gatherings of more than three people were forbidden. Permission to erect the menorah on a public square, where it has been for many years, was not forthcoming to the Chabad Shluchim in the disputed region’s capital city, Simferopol.

Relate the Shluchim:

“The company which usually puts the Menorah up for us and has the cherry picker was too busy with its own work of installing emergency generators. The Friday before Chanukah we were told it would be impossible to get the menorah up.

“We were told that because of the no public gatherings ordinance, other organizations would not be making Chanukah programs.

“We told our people in Simferopol that even if we were not able to have gatherings or even light the menorah, the Menorah must be erected. People expect to see it, as a symbol of religious freedom!

“We wrote to the Rebbe for a brocha, and you can see that the menorah is up, and being lit… And even on the news!” (See video below)